Automatic punchboard



March 19, 1940 T. A. THOMPSN HAL 2,193,948

AUTOMATIC PUNCHBOARD Filed Feb. 1, 1958,

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR March 19, 1940.

T. A. THOMPSON ET AL AUTOMATIC PUNCHBOARD Filed Feb. 1, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT OR 3 March 19, 1940.

T. A. THOMPSON ET AL AUTOMATIC PUNCHBOARD Filed Feb. 1, 193a 5 Sheats-Sheet 5 000 0 o m wo 0 a o 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 \1 r 000 o o o 0 G u I. o o o o o 0 or o oo o e o 0 0a 0 0 o o O 7 7 NVENTORS I March 19, 1940. T. A.THOMPSON El AL ,9

AUTOMATIC PUNCHBOARD Filed Feb. 1, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 19, 1940. 1-. A. THOMPSON ET AL AUTOMATIC PUNCHBOARD Filed Feb. 1, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 19, 1940' I UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC PUNCHBOARD I Thomas A. Thompson and Alan S. Hutchinson,

Tacoma, Wash.

' Application February 1, 1938, Serial No. 188,206

Claims.

This invention relates to automatic punchboards and more particularly to automatic punchboards of the coin actuated type suitable for telling fortunes or other games of skill. Still more particularly this'invention relates to coin actuated punchboards of the type in which the punch is held inserted in the punchboard until a coin releases the punch to allow the punchboard and punch to be mutually. adjusted by the user for selecting the next insert to be punched.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a novel automatic punchboard which is normally locked against operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel automatic punchboard normally locked against operation by locking the punch in the punchboard and provided with a coin actuated release for placing the punch and punchboard in operative condition.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel automatic punchooard provided with novel means for locking the punch in the punchboard. I I

' Another and still further object of my invention is to provide a novel automatic punchboard in which novel means are provided for delivering the punched out insert to the user.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel automatic-punchboard in which novel means are provided for so mounting the punchboard as to allow the ready replacement of the punchboard. I I I Another and still further object of my invention is to provide a novel automatic punchboard which is certain and accurate in operation and which can be used only once for each coin inserted.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel automatic punchboard which is of simple construction, durable, and cheap to manufacture.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

With these objects in View the attached drawings disclose an illustrative embodiment of the present invention but it is to be expressly understood that these drawings are for the purposes of illustration only and should not be considered as definitive of the present invention, reference being had to the appended claimsfor this purpose.

I In the attached drawings Fig. 1 is a front view of oneembodiment of the novelautomatic punchboard' of the present invention showing the relative positions of the several parts;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. l with part of n the case cut away;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment of the present, invention shown in Fig. 1 with the case cut away; I I

Fig. 4 is a view of the coin releaselock and a portion of the punch release mechanism used with the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 as seen from thetop in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view from the bottom in Fig. 1 of the novel punch operating mechanism and lock for the same used with the embodiment of the acters indicate similar parts, ll! is any suitable case for protecting the mechanism of the present invention, streamlined if desired, and provided with. a transparent window H for viewingthe circular punchboard l2. Also carried by case It] is coin insert mechanism l3 and punched in- I I sert delivery trough l4. Carried within case H] and secured to the back thereof issupport plate I 5 upon which is mounted bell crank lever It designed to rotate aboutpivot l'i carried by plate l5. coin release lock E8 of any of the types now on the market having the above mentioned coin insert mechanism 13 and being provided with a suitable finger l9 designedto engage the depending pin"20 carried in one arm of the bell crank lever l6. Theother arm 2| of bell crank lever I6 is cut away at '22 and provided with a pair of opposed shoulders 23 within which the curved shaped head. piece. 24 is designed to be rotatably mounted upon the pivot 25. A spring 26 is secured to pivot I! and is provided with an arm 21 to engage head 24 to normally urge head 24 into engagement with the cutaway portion 22 of arm 2!. Spring 26 is further provided with an extending arm 28 engaging depending pin 20 to rotate bell crank lever l6 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 4, a stop 29 being carried by plate 1 5 to limit this rotation.

Carried by finger I9 is a projection 30 designed to engage and operate any suitable switch SE to illuminate the punchboard if desirable.

Suitably secured to casing IB is any suitable I Carried on plate I5 is a suitable bearing member 32 in which is slidably mounted an arm 33 provided with a suitable projection 34 designed to be engaged by head 24 of bell crank lever [5. The other end of arm 33 is threaded at 35. Mounted upon the threaded portion 35 of arm 33 is pivot housing 35 carrying pivot 37. Rotatably mounted on pivot 37 and extending upwardly toward the top of easing I0 is actuating member 38 which is pivoted at 39 upon support bar 19 which extends parallel to the back and base of casing l0 and is secured to the sides of easing Ill (Fig. 3). Arranged parallel to bar 40 and supported by the sides of easing I0 adjacent the top of casing Ill is a second support bar M provided with a downwardly extending flange :22. Suitably secured to flange 42 is a spring 43 designed to engage the upper portion of actuating member 38 to rotate actuating member 38 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 3.

With particular reference now to Figs. 5 and 6, member 38 is provided with an extension 44 disposed at right angles to member 38 and extending across and parallel to bar 4!. Extension 44 is provided with a portion 65 arranged at right angles to extension 44 and extending downwardly over the edge of bar 4!. Portion d5 of extension 44 is provided with a latch arm 46 designed to slidably engage the edge of bar and is held in place by hearing member 47 secured to bar 4!. Suitably secured to flange 42 in the center of bar 4!, as by bolts 48, is plate 49 provided with outwardly extending projections 58 between which is suitably secured a track member 5i which extends across bar 4! and is suitably spaced therefrom. Mounted on track 5! is trolley 52 provided with bearings 53 and carrying an arm and hand knob 54 for use in manually moving the trolley 52 on track 5!. Carried by bar 4| is spring 55 engaging the trolley 52 to urge it away from plate 49. Carried by trolley 52 is punch track 56 upon which is slidably mounted the punch 51 provided with suitable manual means 58 for sliding punch 5'! on track 56. Carried by plate 49 is a tubular casing 59 within which is carried a spring 50 and a catch 6!, spring 60 urging catch El away from plate 49 to engage the end of latch arm 46 when latch arm 48 is in its retracted position as shown. Catch 6! is provided with an extension 62 passing through a suitable slot in tubular casing 59 and designed to be engaged by trolley 52 when trolley 52 is moved toward plate 49. Latch 48 is of sufiicient length to extend over the outer edge of punch track 56 when trolley 52 is in its inner position adjacent plate 49 to lock the assembly in that position.

With particular reference now to Figs. 2 and suitably mounted upon the center of support bar 40, as by bolt 63, is hub support member 64. R0- tatably mounted on hub support 54 is spool 65. Screwed into spool 65 is hub 66 having a shoulder 61, hub 65 passing through and supporting the circular punchboard l2 and shoulder 6'! engaging the punchboard l2 and clamping it against spool 65 for rotation therewith. Hub G6 has a cylindrical extension 88 upon which is secured a hand knob 53 designed for use in rotating the extension 68, hub 55, punchboard i2 and spool 55. Loosely mounted on extension is sleeve iii having a longitudinal groove it within which the end of punch track is designed to slide. If desired a ratchet wheel 8E3 (Fig. 3) may be carried by spool 55 for rotation therewith to be engaged by the ratchet S! to steady and control the rotation of punchboard 12.

As above stated, one of the features of my novel invention comprises the means provided for delivering the punched out insert to the user. As seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 6 the delivery means comprises a delivery trough l4 into which a tube i2 opens. Tube 12 terminates adjacent bar 45 and is supported by a bracket [3 suitably secured to bar 40 as by the bolt l4. Designed to telescope into the end of tube 72 is a second tube '55 which is cut away at 16 to fit over a portion of spool 85 and is then shaped at l! so as to extend upwardly on a radius of the punchboard directly behind the punchboard l2 and in the plane of the punch track lit, the upper end of tube 75 being secured to plate 65 as by the bolt l3. Adjacent punchboard t2 the tube i5 is slotted as at 19 in the plane of the punch. track to receive the punched out inserts which then fell past the spool 65 and downward through tube 7?. to the delivery trough I l.

Assuming that the embodiment of the present invention as above described is in position for the user to punch out the desired insert, then the various elements will be in the positions shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6 and arm 33 will he in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. In this position latch 46 has been drawn to the left in Fig. 6 and is held there against the tension of spring 63 by catch SI which is urged outward into engagement with the end of latch M? by spring 65. With latch 45 drawn to the left in Fig. 6 it disengages the outer edge of punch track 56 and spring 55 moves trolley 52 away from plate 49 which in turn carries punch track and. punch 5'! with it disengaging punch 5? from the punchboard l2. Punchboard l2 may now be manually rotated by the knob 69 and punch 5'. may be manually moved along track 55 until the desired insert is opposite punch 51.

The user then grasps knob 54 and pushes it toward the surface of the case l0 thereby forcing trolley 52 toward plate 49 against the action of spring 55. Punch track 55 and punch 51 are moved with trolley 52 and punch 51' registers with the desired insert forcing it out of the punchboard l2 and into tube 75 through the slot 19, punch 5'2 passing through punchboard IZ and entering the slot 75. The insert then falls through tube 72 to delivery trough 24.

As trolley 52 moves toward plate 45 it engages extension 62 of catch 6! and moves catch 6! toward plate 49 against the tension of spring Gil. As soon as catch 5! clears the end of latch 46 spring 63 acting upon actuating member 38 rotates it in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 6. Clockwise rotation of member 38 slides latch 46 to the right until it engages the outer edge of punch track 56 and holds it against further movement in either direction. At this time punch 5'! has entered the punchboard ii. to force out the insert and is consequently locked in place in the punchboard l2 thereby effectively prohibiting rotation of the punchboard l2. The embodiment of the present invention is now locked against any further use until a coin is inserted in the coin release lock i3.

When it is again desired to use the punchboard a suitable coin is inserted in the coin release lock it! and the coin insert mechanism l3 pushed toward the case Hi. This motion of the coin insert mechanism l3 moves finger 19 into engagement with the depending pin 20 of the bell crank lever 16 and also acts through projection 30 to close switch 3| to illuminate the punchboard l2.

As finger l9 moves further bell crank lever l6 allow trolley 52 to move away from plate 49 under the action of spring 55 to carry punch track 56 with it to disengage punch 51 from the punchboard I2. When the punch 51 has been freed from punchboard I2 or at any other suitable. time the user draws the coin insert mechanism I3 away from the case I0 and moves finger I9 away from depending pin 20 of hell crank lever I6. As finger I9 frees depending pin 20 spring arm 28 rotates bell crank lever I6 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 4, until bell crank lever I8 engages stop 29, head 24 tripping back against the action of spring 26 to clear projection 34 after which spring 26 moves head 24 back into engagement with the cutaway portion 22 of the bell crank lever I5.

The user may now manually rotate the punchboard I2 and adjust punch 51 to align with the insert it is desired to punch out after which the user proceeds as described above to punch out the insert thereby locking the device against further use until another coin is inserted.

It will now be apparent that the present invention provides a novel automatic punchboard which is normally locked against operation by locking the punch in the punchboard, which is provided with a novel coin release for unlocking the punch and punchboard and which is provided with novel means for delivering the punched out insert to the user, the entire assembly being certain and accurate in operation, simple in construction, durable and cheap to manufacture; It is also now apparent that the present invention provides novel means to allow the ready replacement of the punchboard as tube 15 and hub support 64 are readily demountable allowing the punchboard I2 and its hub 66 and spool 65 to be lifted out and the punchboard I2 replaced.

To those skilled in the art changes to and modifications of the above described illustrative embodiment of the present invention may now be suggested without departing from the inventive concept of the present invention and reference should therefore be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic punchboard including a rotatably mounted punchboard, a punch, a track for said punch arranged along a radius of said punchboard, a.trolley carrying one end of said track, means for manually moving said trolley to engage said punch and said punchboard and means automatically locking said trolley and said punch against movement when said punch has entered said punchboard.

2. In an automatic punchboard including a manually rotatable punchboard having an extended hub, a punch, a track for said punch arranged along a radius of said punchboard and designed to have one end in slidable engagement with said hub, a trolley carrying the other end of said track, means for manually moving said I trolley to slide said track along said hub and engage said punch and punchboard and means automatically locking said trolley and said punch against movement when said punch hasentered said punchboard.

3. In an automatic punchboard including a manually rotatable punchboard, means for normally locking said punchboard against rotation including a trolley, a track carried by said trolley extending along a radius of said punchboard, a punch slidably engaging said track, manual means for moving said trolley to engage said punch and said punchboard, a spring actuated latch designed to engage said track when said punch has entered said punchboard to prevent further movement of said punch, a trip engaging said latch and holding it in inoperative position and means operated by said trolley to trip said trip and release said latch when said punch has entered said punchboard.

4. In an automatic punchboard including a manually rotatable punchboard, means for normally locking said punchboard against rotation including a trolley, a track carried by said trolley extending along a radius of said punchboard, a

punch slidably engaging said track, manual means for moving said trolley to engage said punch and said punchboard; a spring actuated latch designed to engage said track when said punch has entered said punchboard to prevent further movement of said punch, a trip engaging said latch and holding it in inoperative position and means operated by said trolley to trip said trip and release said latch when said punch has entered said punchboard and coin actuated means for withdrawing said latch and freeing said punch and said punchboard.

5. In an automatic punchboard including a manually'rotatable punchboard, means for normally locking said punchboard against rotation including a trolley, a track carried by said trolley extending along a radius of said punchboard, a punch slidably engaging said track, manual means for moving said trolley to engage said punch and said punchboard, resilient means opposing the movement of said trolley, a spring actuated latch designed to engage said track when said punch has entered said punchboard to prevent further movement of said punch, a trip engaging said latch and holdingit in inoperative position and means operated by saidtrolley to trip said trip and release said latch when said punch has entered said punchboard and coin actuated'means for withdrawing said latch and allowing said resilient means to move said punch out of engagement with said punchboard.

6. In an automatic punchboard having a rotatably mounted punchboard and a punch slidable over the face of said punchboard along a radius of said punchboard, means for receiving the punched out insert comprising a slotted tubular member arranged adjacent the rear face of said punchboard and having the slot in the plane of movement of said punch and a second tubular member cooperating with said first named tubular member to deliver thepunched out insert to the user, said first named tubular member telescoping into said second named tubular member to permit the removal of said first named tubular member when replacing said punchboard.

7. In an automatic punchboard having a rotatably mounted punchboard with a rearwardly extending hub and a punch slidable over the face of. said punchboard along a radius of said punchboard, means for receiving the punched out insert comprising a slotted tubular member having the slot adjacent the rear face of the punchboard and in the plane of movement of said, punch for cooperation with said punch to receive the punched out insert, said tubular member being shaped around said rearwardly extending hub, and a second tubular member cooperating with said first named tubular member to deliver the punched out insert to the user.

8. In an automatic punchboard having a 1'0- tatabiy mounted punchboard and a punch slidable over the face of said punchboard, means for receiving the punched out insert and delivering the same to the user comprising a slotted tubular member having the slot adjacent the rear face of said punchboard in the plane of movement of said punch for cooperation with said punch to receive the punched out insert, said punch passing through said punchboard and entering said slot.

9. In an automatic punchboard having a rotatably mounted punchboard with a rearwardly extending spool-shaped hub and a punch slidable over the face of said punchboard, means for receiving the punched out insert and delivering the same to the user comprising a removable slotted tubular member having the slot adjacent the rear face of said punch board in the plane of movement of said punch for cooperation with said punch to receive the punched out insert, said punch passing through said punch board and entering said slot, said tubular member being shaped around and partially cut away to receive said spool-shaped hub, and a fixed second tubular member telescopically receiving said first named tubular member to deliver the punched out insert to the user, said first named tubular member being removed to permit removal of said punchboard,

10. In a device of the class described including a case and a rotatably mounted circular punchooard carried in said case, means for normally locking said punchbcard against rotation including a track carried over the face of and along a radius of said punchboard, a punch slidably en- 

